Old Frisian

About

The Old Frisian Summer School is a bi-annual event co-hosted by the University of Groningen and Oxford University. The 4th edition will take place in Groningen in July 2025.

In a five-day programme, students will learn about Old Frisian language, texts, culture and history in the context of Old Germanic languages. There are lectures on Old Frisian grammar, its position within the Germanic language family, Frisians in Anglo-Saxon sources, Old Frisian Law and Literature. Library visits will focus on Old Frisian manuscripts, both in Groningen (UL) and in Leeuwarden (Tresoar’s ‘Richthofenkolleksje’, Unesco heritage).

On Wednesday, there is a full day in the Frisian capital of Leeuwarden, including visits to Tresoar, the Frisian Academy and the Frisian Museum. The day will close with drinks, hosted by the King’s Commissioner of Fryslân. On Thursday evening, there is a conference dinner. On Friday morning, OFSS alumni will lecture on research they have conducted into Old Frisian after having attended the OFSS themselves.

The OFSS will close with an optional social programme on Saturday, with a nice bike ride along several of the famous Frisian ‘terps’. The ride will include a lunch.

Groningen is reknowned for its dynamic student life, because of the large student population as well as the opening hours of bars.

The 2025 OFSS edition is organized in association with Tresoar and the Frisian Academy.

Course leader

Anne Popkema (Faculty of Arts, UG)

Target group

The summer school is an event in the field of linguistics, aimed at students, PhD candidates and early career researchers with an interest in (Old) Germanic languages who want to familiarise themselves with Old Frisian.

It is expected that the participants have a sufficient command of the English language to actively participate in the discussions and to present their own work in English.

There is a (mandatory) hybrid one-day introductory course (6 hrs) on Friday 4 July 2025, for applicants with a non-linguistic background, in order to get up to speed on terminology and the basics of Old Germanic languages.

Course aim

By the end of the week, students should be able to translate a medium level Old Frisian text with the help of handbooks and have gained a good level of knowledge of the place and importance of Old Frisian within the Old Germanic language family and of medieval Frisia as a Western European region.

Workload
- Preparation: 0 hours (6 hours for non-linguistic students)
- Lectures: 18 hours
- Workshops: 10 hours

Upon successful completion of the programme, the Summer School offers a Certificate of Attendance that mentions the workload of 28 hours (corresponding to 1 ECTS). Students can apply for recognition of these credits to the relevant authorities in their home institutions, therefore the final decision on awarding credits is at the discretion of their home institutions. We will be happy to provide any necessary information that might be requested in addition to the certificate of attendance.

Fee info

€ 300 early bird rate applies when candidate applies by 1 May 2025 & € 150 early bird rate applies when candidate applies by 1 May 2025